Following the peak summer travel season, «silver-haired» travelers are taking advantage of off-peak periods. These days, a 68-year-old resident from Harbin, Heilongjiang, is traveling south on the «Enjoy Heilongjiang · Silver Travel» tourist train to visit Hong Kong and Macao; a 70-year-old passenger and his wife boarded the «New Oriental Express» to experience the unique charm of Korla, Xinjiang…

Silver-haired consumption is an important support for improving people’s livelihoods and a key direction for consumption transformation and upgrading.

China has over 310 million people aged 60 and above, creating a vast consumer market demand: «silver-haired special trains» are highly popular, senior-friendly restaurants are well-received, and travel-based wellness retreats are increasingly in vogue… Relevant data shows that the silver economy scale is expected to exceed 30 trillion yuan by 2035.

Recently released measures to expand service consumption focus on the pressing difficulties faced by the elderly, proposing initiatives such as «strengthening the training of personnel in elderly care, home services, long-term care, and other fields» and «supporting the construction of eligible cultural, tourism, elderly care, childcare, sports, and other service facilities.»

«These measures aim to increase the supply of high-quality services, attract more social capital into the elderly care sector, promote innovative development of the elderly care industry, and create more space for enhancing the quality and scale of silver-haired consumption and cultivating new growth points.»

Research has found that currently, various regions are leveraging their own resource advantages to accelerate the improvement of elderly care service supply, taking multiple measures to tap into the potential of elderly care consumption:

Zhejiang encourages the introduction of professional elderly care service institutions and medical rehabilitation institutions to provide «doorstep» services for the elderly; Henan is enhancing its smart elderly care network to create an all-weather safety net for the silver-haired generation; Guangzhou’s Baiyun District is collaborating with Hunan Tourism Group to connect cultural and tourism resources, promoting the implementation of innovative formats such as «special trains + duty-free shopping» and «special trains + cross-border medical care»…

Private enterprises are actively engaging in age-friendly adaptations. In response to the growing demand for taxi services among the elderly, a ride-hailing platform率先 launched a «Senior Version» mini-program and a telephone booking hotline, incorporating features like large fonts and one-click ride hailing tailored to the usage habits of older adults.

«Considering the special needs of elderly users, when the destination is a hospital and there is a queue, the senior ride-hailing service provides priority dispatch, allowing seniors to get a car faster. As of the end of August this year, priority dispatch for medical visits has been provided over 200,000 times.»

While warming the «sunset» years, we must also protect the «sunrise» generation.

China has nearly 30 million children under the age of 3, indicating a broad market for childcare services. A recent decision proposed strengthening the construction of a universal childcare service system, supporting various models such as employer-provided childcare, community-embedded childcare, and home-based childcare points.

Walking into the «Baby House» in Xiyue Community, Lijing Street, Yinchuan, Ningxia, a teacher vividly tells picture book stories, guiding babies to build block structures, exercising their hands-on skills and creativity. «Since the community got the ‘Baby House,’ my baby comes here almost every day.» A community resident praised this «varied style of childcare.»

To deepen the construction of child-friendly communities, Xiyue Community established a community «Baby House» through a centrally funded demonstration project for universal childcare service development, providing community-embedded infant and toddler care services for families with children aged 1 to 4 in the area.

«Currently, the number of childcare slots for children under 3 has exceeded 5.7 million, with comprehensive childcare service centers built in over 300 prefecture-level cities and populous counties, allowing more ordinary people to ‘afford childcare’ and ‘feel assured about childcare.'»

Beijing plans to coordinate community resources to provide more free or low-cost venues, promoting the construction of community-embedded childcare service facilities; Suqian, Jiangsu, integrates child-friendly modifications into urban renewal and old neighborhood renovations, adding children’s play facilities and child-friendly signage; Taiyuan, Shanxi, continuously strengthens the child’s perspective of «viewing the city from a height of 1 meter» in garden construction, scientifically configuring soft pathways and children’s play facilities… Various regions are developing childcare service formats based on local conditions, enhancing bottom-line guarantee capabilities and the supply of universal services.

«Currently, the key is to

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China with a unique history as a former British colony. It is renowned as a global financial hub and a vibrant cultural melting pot, famous for its iconic skyline and deep natural harbor. Its history, from its cession to Britain in 1842 to its return to China in 1997 under the «one country, two systems» principle, has shaped its distinct East-meets-West character.

Macao

Macao is a Special Administrative Region of China known for its unique blend of Portuguese and Chinese cultures, a legacy of being a Portuguese colony for over 400 years until its handover to China in 1999. It is famous globally as a major gambling destination, often called the «Las Vegas of Asia,» and its historic center, with landmarks like the Ruins of St. Paul’s, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This fusion is evident in its architecture, cuisine, and traditions.

Korla

Korla is a historically significant city in Xinjiang, China, strategically located on the northern edge of the Taklamakan Desert. It was an important stop on the ancient Silk Road and has long been a hub for trade and cultural exchange. Today, it is a major modern city known for its petroleum industry and as a gateway to the surrounding natural attractions.

Xinjiang

Xinjiang is a vast autonomous region in northwestern China, historically known as a crossroads of the Silk Road where diverse cultures and empires intersected. It is home to many ethnic groups, including the Uyghur people, and is known for its striking landscapes ranging from deserts to mountains. Throughout history, it has been under the control of various nomadic confederations and Chinese dynasties before being incorporated into the modern Chinese state.

Harbin

Harbin is a major city in northeastern China, founded in 1898 as a hub for the Russian-built Chinese Eastern Railway. It is renowned for its unique European-inspired architecture, particularly in the Central Street district, which reflects its history as a center for Russian and other international immigrants. The city is also famous internationally for its annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival.

Heilongjiang

Heilongjiang is a province in Northeast China, named after the Heilongjiang River (Amur River) which forms its border with Russia. Historically, it was the homeland of various Tungusic peoples, including the Manchus who later founded the Qing Dynasty. The region saw significant Russian influence and settlement, particularly with the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Zhejiang

Zhejiang is a coastal province in eastern China, renowned for its picturesque landscapes of rolling hills, rivers, and the prosperous Hangzhou Bay. Its history is deeply rooted in ancient Yue culture and it served as a political and economic center during the Southern Song Dynasty. Today, it is a major economic hub, famous for its capital Hangzhou—home to the scenic West Lake—and as a global leader in e-commerce and private enterprise.

Henan

Henan Province in central China is considered one of the cradles of Chinese civilization, with a history spanning over 5,000 years. It was the location of numerous ancient capitals and is home to four of China’s Eight Great Ancient Capitals, including Luoyang and Kaifeng. The province is also renowned for the Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Chan Buddhism and Shaolin Kung Fu.